358 Dr. Wallace on the Ouk-feeding 
Engéne Simon, Agricultural Commissioner of the French govern- 
ment in China and Japan; he informed me of the great value of 
the Bombyx Yamamai, and together we made every effort, but in 
vain, to procure eggs of this species; we were told it was abso- 
lately impossible to obtain them. Mons. Simon being obliged to 
return, I made hiin a promise before he left to continue my efforts, 
and, in case of success, to offer the eggs to the French government. 
But the more I tried, the more I saw how difficult if not impos- 
sible was the attempt. I applied in vain to the Japanese mer- 
chants, the silk growers, to many native naturalists with whom I 
was on friendly terms, lastly to the government, but all in vain ; 
the reply was ‘the penalty of death is inflicted on any one who 
may export these eggs.’ Another idea then possessed me, to apply 
to one of my pupils. As the Principal of the Imperial School of 
Medicine at Nagasaki, | was surrounded with students from the 
different provinces of Japan, and amongst others from the provinces 
of Etizenand Vigo, or Hugo, where alone the Yamamai silk worms 
are reared. One of these youths, who had on several occasions 
given me proofs of his extraordinary devotion, was selected by me 
for the purpose; to him I explained the whole affair, and pro- 
posed that he should go to Vigo at my expense, in order to collect 
and send me as many eggs as possible. This brave young man, 
whose name I have promised solemnly never to divulge, started on 
the morrow, and after an absence of fifteen days secretly sent me 
the eggs, which he had collected at much difficulty and danger to 
himself. He told me that no one suspected the object of his 
journey ; that was in Oct. 1862. My mission to Japan was 
finished Nov. Ist, 1862; I started for Europe by the English 
mail-packet, and undertook the charge of carrying these eggs to 
Europe. ‘This was by no means an easy matter on board a steam- 
ship in the tropics. If the eggs were kept in the cabin, a great 
risk of their premature hatching was incurred, for the temperature 
there in the month of November is above 95° F. and in the Red Sea 
105° and more. I followed the advice of Mons. Simon, and placed 
the eggs in the ice box on board ship, though often but little ice 
was therein. T’o this precaution is due in a great measure their safe 
arrival in Europe in good condition. Tarrived at the Hague early 
in January, 1863, and at once sent out the eggs ; the greater part 
was sent to the French government, and to the Imperial Society of 
Acclimatization, according to the promise I had made to my friend 
Mons. Simon. Another portion was sent according to a promise 
made to a Mons. Bauduin, at Nagasaki, agent to the Dutch Han- 
